Traders to seek licenses to own pistols for self defense

Puducherry: The Federation of Traders Associations in Puducherry on Friday decided to apply licenses to own pistols for self defense following "increasing rowdysim". The Associations at a meeting also decided to hold a procession on September 11 and meet District Collector and submit their demand as the activities of anti social elements were growing every day. Secretary of the Federation Balou said a signature campaign would also be launched to mobilise support of the people, voluntary organisations and merchants to urge the Central and State governments to intensify steps to protect e merchants who were facing threat to their lives at the hands of the anti social elements extorting money and also damaging properties on the business premises.

He said that the merchants would wait for three months and would boycott payment of taxes and duties to the Centre and the State government if there was no response to their plea for protection. PTI